Ms Barsha Baral1, Mr Craig Aboltins1, Ms Elizabeth Kindred1
1Northern Health, Epping, Australia
Biography:
Barsha Baral is the Manager of Infection Prevention and Surveillance at Northern Health. With a strong background in infection prevention and control, Barsha has led numerous quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing patient safety and reducing healthcare-associated infections. Barsha is passionate about embedding evidence-based practices into everyday care.
Abstract:
Problem/Issue Identified
Peripheral Intravenous Cannulas (PIVCs) are the most frequently performed procedure at Northern Health (NH), yet they are linked to preventable complications. A review identified key issues: misalignment between local policy and the Australian PIVC Clinical Care Standard, inconsistent EMR documentation between nursing and medical staff, and limited patient engagement.
What Was Done
NH relaunched its PIVC improvement program, led by Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), and Quality teams, in collaboration with the clinical wards. Key strategies included:
• Aligning local policy with national standards
• Streamlining EMR workflows
• Enhancing patient education and involvement
• Avoiding unnecessary insertions and ensuring timely removal
• Implementing a difficult PIVC escalation pathway
• Introducing paediatric-specific guidelines
Educational activities included interactive workshops, visual aids, and Q&A sessions. PIVC compliance was audited three times weekly, with monthly feedback to departments.
Results
The program improved alignment with national standards, enhanced documentation consistency, and increased patient and staff engagement. It also led to a reduction in preventable complications, a decline in Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia rates, and improved insertion success. Data trends showed safer, more consistent PIVC management.
Conclusion
The relaunch effectively addressed systemic and clinical challenges. A multidisciplinary, patient-centred approach supported sustainable improvements in practice and outcomes.
Lessons Learnt
• Policy alignment ensures consistent care.
• Integrated EMR workflows improve documentation.
• Patient engagement enhances safety.
• Collaboration from ward level to executive leadership is critical for success.
• Ongoing auditing and feedback drive improvement.